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In the spotlight, he was wearing a royal blue velvet suit, and there was a smile on his face that could not be hidden, which was the calmness and confidence of the victor. 42-year-old Hu Ge won the Best Actor Award in one fell swoop at the 29th Busan International Film Festival with the role of "A Bao" in the movie "Flowers", standing on the pinnacle stage of Asian films. However, the aura of glory has not yet dissipated, but a sudden storm of public opinion has drawn him into the whirlpool of controversy, and the praise and applause that used to be are now mixed with doubts and criticism.
1. Busan shines, a double affirmation of strength and emotional intelligence
On the evening of October 6, 2024, the award ceremony of the Busan Film Festival was star-studded. That night, Hu Ge stood out from many outstanding actors with his superb acting skills in the movie "Flowers" and successfully won the Best Actor Award.
From the audience to the podium, Hu Ge took every step firmly and confidently. Faded away from the "boss" style black suit, he chose a royal blue velvet suit, calm and introverted with a hint of nobility, showing the charm of a mature man in his gestures. In the face of filmmakers from all over the world, he calmly stretched out his hands generously, enjoying the glorious moment that belonged to him.
In his acceptance speech, Hu Ge first thanked the organizers and the audience in fluent Korean and English, showing his international demeanor as a Chinese actor. Subsequently, he attributed this honor to the entire crew of "Flowers", and thanked the director Wong Kar-wai, the screenwriter, the crew and every audience, and his humble attitude won warm applause from the audience.
It is worth mentioning that the actor who won the Best Actress Award that night was Hu Ge's old friend Ariel Lin. The two collaborated on the TV series "Flying Immortals" many years ago, and were once regarded as "golden boys and girls" by the audience. After many years, the two met again on the stage of the international film festival, and both won the Best Actor and Actress Award.
This time in Busan, he mentioned this old friend again, and the sincere friendship was overflowing. On stage, they are partners in mutual achievement; Off the stage, they are friends who support each other. This kind of sympathetic feeling has also become a beautiful scenery at the awards ceremony that night.
Hu Ge's performance at the Busan Film Festival is undoubtedly the best affirmation of his efforts over the years. However, just as people were immersed in this victory of Chinese films, a sudden storm of public opinion pushed Hu Ge to the forefront.
2. Outside the spotlight, controversy and reflection
Recently, iQiyi released a Weibo, officially announcing Hu Ge's new drama, with the text "Salute". However, this seemingly ordinary Weibo has caused an uproar on the Internet. There is no other reason, it is the name of this drama that deeply the nerves of some netizens.
The prototype of this drama is the most famous nurse in United Kingdom history - Florence · Nightingale. She was the originator of the modern nursing profession, and during the Crimean War, she led 38 nurses to the front line, saving the lives of countless wounded with her superb medical skills and selfless dedication. The scientific nursing system she founded is still used by countries around the world.
Nightingale's story is a hymn to the power of women, and her name represents courage, wisdom, and reverence for life. However, this TV series based on her has adapted the gender of the protagonist and replaced a great female character with a male.
As soon as the news came out, it immediately aroused strong dissatisfaction among netizens. "Come out and quit the show, or quit the circle." "Looking forward to our new drama Ms. Hu Ge." "Why don't you go back and pick up the trash." Similar comments flooded Hu Ge's Weibo comment area, and the former "national male god" became the target of public criticism overnight.
Indeed, the phenomenon of transferring women's success to men is not uncommon in film and television works. In the movie "My Hometown and Me", it is obviously several female teachers who are selflessly dedicated, but after the adaptation, they are integrated into a male teacher. In the movie "The Thirteen Hairpins of Jinling", Ms. Weitling, who protected tens of thousands of refugees during the Nanjing Massacre, was also adapted into a male role, and even added unwarranted romances.
In the anti-epidemic movie "Chinese Doctor", the epilepsy patient who accidentally ripped off the nurse's mask was adapted into a little girl who deliberately ripped off the nurse's mask in the movie. This practice of "deliberately smearing women for the sake of dramatic conflicts" has aroused strong public indignation.
Returning to Hu Ge's new play, putting aside gender issues, there seems to be nothing wrong with just looking at the title itself. Korea also has a TV series named after "Hammurabi", which can be seen as a kind of inheritance of the spirit of the law, so why can't "Nightingale" be seen as a tribute to the spirit of nursing?
The problem, however, is that there are so many such examples. When "preempting women's roles" becomes a common phenomenon, when women's voices are ignored again and again, people's anger and resentment will follow. And Hu Ge, as the leading actor of this controversial work, naturally can't stay out of it.
For Hu Ge, this is undoubtedly a sudden "flying disaster". He responded on Weibo that he was just "an actor who tried his best to interpret every role", that the script was not decided by him, and that he had no right to interfere with the title of the play.
However, this explanation was not recognized by netizens. Some netizens pointed out that Hu Ge also had the phenomenon of "seizing the light of female characters" in his past film and television works. For example, the TV series "I Am a High Mountain", which is adapted from the true deeds of Zhang Guimei, a character who "moved China", tells the story of her taking root in poor mountainous areas, founding a free girls' high school, and helping countless girls change their fate.
However, in the TV series, Zhang Guimei's husband played by Hu Ge has become the "spiritual pillar" of the whole play, and there are even many emotional scenes. In contrast, Zhang Guimei's own story line has been weakened a lot. This kind of "noisy" approach also made many viewers feel dissatisfied.
From the glorious moment of the Busan night to the storm of public opinion caused by the new drama, Hu Ge has experienced the ups and downs of his life in just a few days. This turmoil has also made more people start to reflect: how should we view the relationship between actors and characters? When the spotlight goes out and the filter fades, how should we rationally look at celebrities?
3. Tear off the filter and look at the actors and characters rationally
It is undeniable that the actor's own aura will add charm to the character, and successful roles will also feed the actor back and make his star shine even brighter. The two complement each other and jointly build the public's perception of actors. However, we must also be soberly aware that actors are actors after all, they are just interpreting the life in the script, interpreting the joys, sorrows and sorrows in other people's stories.
When we talk about Hu Ge, we will think of the chic and uninhibited nature of "Li Xiaoyao", the strategic strategy of "Mei Changsu", and the ups and downs of "Zheng Qiudong" in the workplace...... These vivid characters carry our youthful memories and emotional projections, and also give us a beautiful imagination of the actors themselves.
However, the actor's job is to interpret the character, not to be the character itself. Taking off their costumes and walking out of the set, they are also just ordinary people, with their own lifestyles, values and emotional attitudes. We can't imagine an actor as a perfect idol just because we love a role, and we can't completely dismiss an actor's work and efforts just because some of their words or actions don't meet expectations.
In the Internet era of information explosion, every word and deed of public figures is exposed to the spotlight and is infinitely amplified and interpreted. It's easy to get caught up in the black-and-white binary opposition of just a fragment of information on the Internet, and ignore rational thinking about the event itself.
For Hu Ge, he has created many classic characters that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and has also shown high emotional intelligence and humility in public. But at the same time, he is also like ordinary people, he will make mistakes, there will be immature remarks, and even disappointing behavior. We can't deny him professionalism as an actor because of some of his remarks, nor can we nail him to the moral pillar of shame because of his past.
Looking at actors rationally, we need to take off the "fan filter" and avoid "moral judgment". We should treat the actors as ordinary people, appreciate their works, and respect their contributions, but we should also maintain rational judgment and not over-deify anyone.
Fourth, from Hu Ge to the entire entertainment industry, call on the industry to reflect
In recent years, with the awakening of women's consciousness and the increasing attention of society to gender equality, gender bias in film and television works has also attracted more and more attention and criticism. From "Mary Sue", "Silly White Sweet" to "Big Heroine", the image of female characters is constantly breaking through and reshaping, but it is undeniable that there are still many deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes in film and television creation.
As a cultural product, film and television works have a subtle influence. An excellent film and television work can resonate with the audience, convey positive values, and even promote social progress. A film and television work full of prejudice and discrimination will deepen social stereotypes and even cause negative social impact.
In the face of controversy, the entire film and television industry needs to carry out a deep reflection: how can we create film and television works that are more respectful of women and more in line with the values of the times? How can we ensure the artistry of the work while also assuming due social responsibility?
First of all, screenwriters should jump out of the trap of "male power" thinking and create more diverse, independent and plump female characters, so that female characters can truly "stand up" in film and television works, rather than becoming a foil for male characters. Secondly, directors and actors should also strengthen their awareness of gender equality, refuse to appear in films and television works that objectify and belittle women, and use practical actions to contribute to the promotion of gender equality. Finally, the audience should also improve their aesthetic level and critical thinking, reject the culture of "consumerism" and "patriarchy", and choose to watch those films and television works that are truly valuable and meaningful.
From Hu Ge to the entire entertainment industry, this is not only a discussion about actors and characters, but also a speculation on social responsibility, values and cultural reflection. I hope that in the future, we can see a more diverse, inclusive and healthy entertainment industry. I hope that in the future film and television works, we can see more independent, confident, and shining female images.
Information sources:
Beiqing.com2024-10-08Hu Ge won the Best Actor at the Asian Content Awards at the Busan Film Festival for "Flowers".
Luwang2024-09-25Hu Ge's new drama official announcement sparked controversy, rushed to the hot search, and netizens fried the pot